Why Did 357 Maximum Vanish? (And Should It Come Back?)

In 1983, Remington and Ruger introduced a new revolver cartridge that was meant to be a powerhouse upgrade over the popular .357 Magnum. It was called the .357 Remington Maximum, and it promised more velocity, more range, and more knockdown power. But despite its potential, it vanished from the market almost as quickly as it arrived. What happened? And should we be talking about bringing it back?

Big Bang, Short Run

The .357 Maximum was designed to extend the .357 Magnum case by three-tenths of an inch, giving reloaders more powder capacity and allowing the cartridge to push 180-grain bullets at speeds approaching 2,200 feet per second. That put it within spitting distance of the classic .35 Remington in a rifle-length barrel. In revolvers, it delivered eye-widening muzzle flash and thunderous report – but not without consequences.

Flame Cutting: The Death Blow

One of the main reasons for the .357 Maximum’s fall from grace was something called flame cutting. When fired in revolvers like the Ruger Blackhawk, the powerful blast of hot gases escaping the cylinder gap would start eroding the top strap of the gun frame. This erosion scared manufacturers and buyers alike, who feared long-term damage. It didn’t help that early loadings often featured lightweight bullets that increased pressure and flame speed.

Too Much, Too Soon?

Timing might have doomed the cartridge as well. While .44 Magnum revolvers had their heyday thanks to Dirty Harry, the .357 Maximum was a bit too niche. It showed up during a period when the magnum revolver craze was fading, and there wasn’t enough demand to justify continuing production. Even though the cartridge was capable of extraordinary things, it didn’t quite have the market or the media moment to make it stick.

Six Guns in One

Despite being practically extinct in the factory gun world, the .357 Maximum has one of the coolest hidden features of any cartridge – it can fire six different types of ammunition. Shooters can run .38 Short, .38 Long, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .360 Dan Wesson (if you can find it), and of course, the .357 Maximum itself. That makes it one of the most flexible straight-wall cartridges ever designed. No barrel swaps. No adapters. Just load and shoot.

The Rifle Awakening

While it was mostly known as a revolver round, the .357 Maximum really shines in a carbine-length rifle. One shooter converted a rare Ruger Number One rifle to handle the round by extending the chamber with a reamer. The result? A lightweight, beautiful, single-shot rifle capable of taking down medium-sized game out to 200 yards with soft recoil and surprising power. It was like turning a revolver round into a brush gun.

Better Than the New Stuff?

Interestingly, when compared to modern straight-wall hunting cartridges like the .350 Legend and .360 Buckhammer, the old .357 Maximum holds up shockingly well. Ballistically, it can even beat them. With handloads, it pushes heavier bullets faster. In rifles, it nearly duplicates .35 Remington energy. So, if performance isn’t the issue, then why haven’t we seen it come roaring back?

The Collector’s Curse

Part of the answer lies in how few factory guns were ever made for it. Ruger produced a limited run of Blackhawks and Dan Wesson made some revolvers, but production stopped quickly. The Ruger Number One carbine is another rare find. Since then, the cartridge has lived mostly in the hands of reloaders and enthusiasts who convert guns or build customs. Its rarity has actually worked against it – many shooters simply don’t know it exists.

A Youth Hunter’s Dream?

Here’s a surprising twist: the .357 Maximum might be the ideal youth hunting cartridge. It has less recoil than many bottleneck rifle rounds, but enough energy to take down deer. In a single-shot or lever-action rifle, it offers a simple, safe, and manageable platform. One hunter even introduced a young shooter to it by stepping up slowly – .38 Special, then .357 Magnum, and finally the Maximum. The transition was smooth, and the power was never overwhelming.

Why Not a Lever Gun?

If there’s one “what-if” that haunts the story of the .357 Maximum, it’s this: what if it had launched in a lever-action rifle instead of a revolver? That could have changed everything. Lever guns are incredibly popular in straight-wall states, and the cartridge’s performance would have matched the needs of many hunters. But back in the ’80s, it just wasn’t done. A missed opportunity that might now be ripe for a second chance.

Reloaders Keep It Alive

Despite being largely forgotten by the mainstream, the cartridge has a small but dedicated following. Brass is still available thanks to Starline, which has done an incredible job keeping obscure calibers from extinction. Reloaders love the cartridge for its flexibility, efficiency, and power. And with modern powders and bullets, it can do even more today than it could in 1983.

Is It Time for a Comeback?

Let’s be honest: this cartridge has all the right ingredients for a revival. It’s powerful, flexible, and fits perfectly into the modern trend of straight-wall hunting cartridges. With companies already reviving old ideas under new names, like the .360 Buckhammer, there’s no reason the .357 Maximum couldn’t find a new home. All it needs is a good marketing push, maybe a new lever gun, and a little modern flair.

Don’t Call It a Gimmick

Some cartridges feel like gimmicks. The .357 Maximum isn’t one of them. It was ahead of its time, misunderstood, and released in the wrong platform. But in today’s world of suppressed lever actions, limited-distance hunting, and ammo variety, it might be exactly what shooters and hunters are looking for. Sometimes, the best ideas aren’t new – they’re just waiting for the right moment. And this might be it. Bring it back.